The Hindu 30.04.2013
800 roads to be re-laid using funds saved from projects
If you are a resident of one of the added areas and if an interior road is damaged, this is the time to remind your councillor or call 1913.
More interior roads in the added areas of Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram, Ambattur, Valasaravakkam, Alandur, Perungudi and Sholinganallur will be re-laid using savings made from the first mega city development mission works in the city.
The Chennai Corporation has started preparing a list of 800 additional roads, after the government has approved the use of the savings of around Rs.100 crore, made by the Corporation in the first megacity development mission work, for the development of interior roads.
The mega city development mission includes improvement of civic infrastructure with a grid system of roads, more streetlights, street furniture, footpaths and improved stormwater drains.
Under the first phase, a grid system was planned for all eight zones comprising the expanded areas of the Corporation.
A total of Rs. 333.27 crore was approved by the Corporation for implementation of the grid system covering 360 roads in the first phase. However, many works were not taken up because of simultaneous Metrowater works and other similar civic works.
As a large part of the mega city development mission funds were allocated for Metrowater, the Chennai Corporation had to drop some works on stretches where Metrowater had to dig roads. Some stretches were included in the hope that Metrowater works would be completed in a few months.
However, some of these Metrowater works were not completed because of various issues faced at the local level, including traffic restrictions in place. Some savings were made on stretches that were improved yet modified to suit the restrictions of traffic police or other departments.
Despite all odds, the Chennai Corporation completed around 10,000 civic infrastructure works in 2012-2013 at a capital expenditure of Rs. 705 crore, the highest till now.
